Wrench



S. C. NORTH Get. 1, 1929.

WRENCH Filed April 26. 1927 if/ N ss 19 Tm RNE vs Patented Oct. 1, 1929UNITED STATES wager WRENCH Application filed April 26, 1927. Serial No.186,670.

This invention relates to a new and improved type of adjustable wrench,part1cularly that type of wrench commonly called open-ended in which thejaw faces are 1n planes parallel with that of the wrench handle.

The main object of my invention is to provide a wrench in which theposition of the jaw members with reference to each other may be variedeasily and speedily by permit,- ting unrestricted movement of one of theaw members.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenientmeans for looking the jaw members in spaced relation.

Other objects and advantages relate to the details and form of thedevice, all as will more fully appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device.

Figure 2 is a section, partially in elevation, at line 2-2 .of Figure 1,and with part of the handle broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, of Figure 2.

Like numbers refer'to like parts of my device, and in the descriptionthe parts will be referred to as they appear in the drawings.

The upper jaw member -1- having a flat under face adapted to engage anut, carries on one side thereof a rearwardly and downwardly extendingflange -2-, and on the opposite side a corresponding flange -3- ofuniform size and shape. The rear of jaw member -1- is provided with aslot 4 eX- tending from top to bottom of such jaw memher -1- and of awidth somewhat less than I I flat forward surface abuts the rear of withthe flat face of the jaw member -6- "disposed to coact with the flatface of jaw member -1- and with the series .of ratchet teeth -7, 7-projecting rearwardly.

The downward movement of movable mem- .a

ber -5- is limited by pin -8- fixed in the front edge of flange -2- atthe bottom thereof. A locking member -9- of approximately squaresection, carries on one longitudinal surface a series of ratchet teeth-10, 10- extending the length thereof. At opposite ends of the surfacecarrying the ratchet teeth -10, 10- are provided bottomed holes -11, 11-adapted to receive springs -12, 12- and balls -13, l3-.

.Locking member -9- is mounted between flanges -2- and -3- with theratchet teeth -10, l0- extending forwardly towards ratchet teeth -7, 7

engaging face of jaw mem er -1- and the locking member '-9- is forcedbackward by R the balls -13, 13- and springs -12, 12-

It will be obvious that when the handle -15- points straight back fromthe opening between the jaw members -1- and -6- and'the locking member-9- is pushed back wards away from the ratchet teeth -7, 7- the movablemember -5- may be moved up and down at will, varying the distancebetween the jaw members -1- and -6-.

l/Vhen the jaw members -1- and -6- (Y have been placed in the desiredspaced relation, the handle -15-, as perhaps may best be seen from thedotted lines in Figure 2, may be moved up or down with reference to thejaw member -1- effecting a cam action through its forward end to forcethe locking member -9- forward and to mesh the ratchet teeth -10, 10-with the ratchet teeth -7, 7- thereby locking the movable mem ber -5- inposition.

Altho I have shown and described a specific construction and form ofpart as illustrative of an embodiment of my invention I do not desire torestrict myself to the exact form, shape or arrangement of the parts, asvarious changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an open ended wrench, a wrench body having a projecting jaw at oneend, a movable member having a jaw in opposed relation'to the firstmentioned jaw and having a series of ratchet teeth on the rear edgeslidably mounted in the wrench body, a locking member having a series ofratchet teeth slidably mounted in the wrench body for movement into andout of contact with the movable member, a handle pivotally mounted inthe wrench body, a cam surface on the end of the handle for forcing thelocking member into contact with the movable member when the handle ispivoted in one direction, and a second cam surface on the handle forforcing the locking member into contact with the movable member when thehandle is pivoted in the opposite direction.

2. In an open ended wrench, a wrench body having a projecting jaw, amovable body having a projecting jaw on one edge and a series of ratchetteeth on the'other edge movably mounted in the wrench body, a lockingmemher having a series of ratchet teeth on one edge movably mounted inthe wrench body, a plurality of apertures in the locking member, a ballin each aperture, a spring in each aperture forcing the balls againstthe ratchet teeth of the movable member to normally hold the movablemember and the locking member in spaced relation, a handle pivotallymounted in the wrench body, a cam surface on the handle adapted to forcethe locking member into contact with the movable memher when the handleis pivoted in one direction, and a second cam surface on the handleadapted to force the locking member into contact with the movable memberwhen the handle is pivoted in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16 day of April,1927.

STANLEY 0. NORTH.

